Brussels-Italian suspect in Qatargate scandal Nicolo Figa-Talamanca remains in pre-trial detention | Interior

A second suspect in the investigation into corruption in the European Parliament also appeared before the AI ​​on Tuesday, the former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri. At the request of his lawyers, his treatment was postponed to January 17.

It was previously reported that Francesco Giorgi, the partner of Eva Kaili, the former Vice President of the European Parliament, also had to appear before the AI ​​on Tuesday, but that is not correct. The man had not appealed against the decision of the Brussels council chamber of December 14 to extend his pre-trial detention by one month.

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The trio was arrested on December 9, just like Eva Kaili, her father and trade unionist Luca Visentini. The arrests were part of an investigation by the federal prosecutor into attempts by the Gulf state of Qatar to influence the economic and political decision-making of the European Parliament by paying large sums of money or giving substantial gifts to people with a political and/or strategic position within the European Parliament. to offer. Morocco is also mentioned in the study.

Investigators of the federal judicial police seized 1.5 million euros during those house searches and arrests. In Panzeri’s house, 700,000 euros in cash was seized, while Eva Kaili’s father was arrested with a suitcase full of banknotes worth about 600,000 euros. Later that day, Eva Kaili could also be arrested, with about 150,000 euros in her possession.

Panzeri, Giorgi, Kaili and Figa-Talamanca were placed under arrest, while Visentini and Kaili’s father were released.

REVIEW. Striking speech by Eva Kaili in the European Parliament at the end of November: “Qatar is a leader in labor rights”